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A Word to the Home Owner Planning on Renovating
Renovations - What To Look For
by Terry Levesque
Being in this business for many years, I find that many people tend to go the
inexpensive and cheap way and do not take the most important factors for a
renovation or construction in consideration. They think about the cost involved
in renovating or in the new construction, but do not think about the outcome
when using inexpensive and cheap materials. They should consider that the price
point is not the only deciding factor. When they think of renovating their home,
they think about siding, roof, floors, counters, bathrooms, kitchen, and even
the colors of the interior walls and the siding on the exterior. They become
excited and only think about how good it is going to look when everything is
finished. It is remarkable, how many times one of the most important factors is
overlooked – the windows and doors. Windows and doors are one of the most
important components of a home. In addition to enhancing the aesthetic beauty of
your home, windows and doors can provide fresh air and ventilation to the home,
allow daylight to brighten interior spaces and keep out harsh outdoor elements
such as wind, snow, rain, etc. Windows and doors must be carefully selected to
meet your needs. They must be suitable for resisting these certain environmental
exposures. When it comes to windows and doors, people think of the expense and
not how they can save money in the long run. After all renovations are completed
or the building is finished, they wonder why it is that the windows and doors
are leaking, that it is cold and drafty, that there is extensive mold build up,
or why the units are even sweating. I tell my customers, that when they are
looking for window and door units, they should not go with the cheapest. When
windows and doors are not sealing properly, it can not only damage the siding,
the insulation and the drywall but it can add extra humidity to you home. Then
you have a created the so called “Leaky Condominium Syndrome”. A lot of good
renovators and inspectors are saying that you should do your homework. This
means that you should make sure that you receive information about the windows
and doors to be installed and that they are properly installed by people who
know how to do the installations or have installation guides provide to you. The
proper window properly installed can save you money and a lot of headaches in
the future. You can save on your monthly heating costs and can eliminate costly
repairs to your home. And this will easily compensate for the higher initial
cost. In saying this, you should consider all your options but the price point
is not necessarily the only deciding factor. A few points you should consider
are what kind of elements your windows and doors will be exposed to and which
window and door style will suite your needs in these climates or exposures. For
example, if you live in a high wind and rain exposed area, you should not be
using slider windows or door units. Sliding style windows and doors come with a
brush seal. You should also know where the wind is coming from and which side is
the most exposed to the rain. Also, keep in mind that rubber seal or
compressible seals are available for windows and doors. Compressible seals are
better than brush seals. There are also window and door units which come with
multi-point locking system. Using a multi point locking system instead of a
slider system, will increase the performance of your windows and doors and also
help to keep unwanted visitors and the elements on the outside. When renovating,
check for air leaks around your old windows and doors. This can be done by
holding up a candle. Using good foam around the windows and doors is better than
stuffing insulation randomly around the units. Make sure that the outside of the
units have blueskin around the nailing flange. All vinyl windows and doors
should be balanced so they close and operate properly. Check to make sure that
the window and door sales representative provides you with information on how
the units look, lock and what type will be most suitable to you needs and
climate conditions. They should also be looking at the wind load. You should
provide information about insulation, and how the house is facing the elements.
You should understand the warranty. Remember Do Your Homework. I believe in Home
Shows. They have been created to give you information about the products
available to the consumer. Visiting a Home Show or Trade Show is a great way of
receiving information, seeing the product and asking questions about it. Keep in
mind that they have been created so that you as the consumer can ask questions.
– Do Your Homework! There is an old saying that I tell my customers when I deal
with renovations. This saying is true and applies to everything, including
windows. “Either pay for it now or pay me later to fix it!” When you are
deciding about your window and door package, you should think about drafts,
mold, heat loss, water damage, and most of all how much you can save in the long
run. For renovations or installing your replacement windows and doors, make sure
that any rotten wood, siding or insulation is removed and replaced. This will
stop any further problems such as mold, increased rot, fungus, or leakage.
Windows or doors should never be installed over existing units. The existing or
old frames should be removed. When you keep the existing frames in the house,
you will not do yourself any favors. You will create a problem for future
processes. Make sure when installing new windows that you remove the old frames
and nail flange. By removing the existing frames before installing your new
units, you will be able to see what is under the old units. Should there be any
rot or mould or any water damage, it can be taken care of. If you have any
questions, ask your qualified window and door specialist, the sales
representative, the installer or even phone the manufacturer. Knowing what to
look for in a window or a door can help avoid buying something you don’t need.
Some things you should keep in mind are how air-and watertight the units are,
what the window load resistance is, the ease of operation and what the
resistance is to forced entry. Last but not least, remember on Vancouver Island
and the Coast of BC we are living in a rain forest. Build for it! Knowing the
type of windows best suited for your home and geographic locations can help you
choose the windows and doors that reduce direct drafts from air leakage and the
potential for damage from water leaks. It is important to understand how the
windows and doors perform with respect to these factors. I know this is a lot to
remember, but in the long run, you will be satisfied with your renovation.
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